MPs could be forced to repay money after Commons expenses audit

More than 300 MPs could be asked to repay money or provide further information to justify their expenses claims, it was reported today.

MPs are to receive letters next week about their claims over the past five years. Auditors are expected to ask up to 325 members to justify instances where they have received public money, or to repay it, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

The letters are reportedly being sent out by the former civil servant Sir Thomas Legg, who has been leading a review of all claims since 2004.

Legg is believed to be examining cases where MPs have used parliamentary expenses to improve their second homes and make a profit, rather than just maintain them.

He is also said to have uncovered more examples where taxpayers' money has been used to pay off the capital element of mortgages, instead of just interest on the borrowing, as is allowed under the rules.

The letters will be sent out privately, and Legg is not expected to deliver his final report until December.

MPs will also receive an email containing a detailed analysis of their use of the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA), which is intended to help meet the costs of running a second home, the newspaper reported.

MPs will be told they have three weeks to challenge the findings and can appeal to the Commons' standards and privileges committee if they do not agree with Legg's conclusions.

According to the BBC, the prime minister could be among those asked to pay back cash.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph yesterday, Gordon Brown said he believed the "worst offenders" in the scandal should be prosecuted.

"It's right to distinguish between what you might call corruption in some cases, which is for the courts to decide, and honest mistakes or misunderstandings about rules that are very unclear," he said.

"Some cases will end up in the courts. Where someone's done something very wrong we've got a duty to deal with them most severely."

Numerous MPs from across parties have already announced they are stepping down after being caught up in the expenses row, and Scotland Yard is considering whether activities by some may have been criminal.

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